December 23, 2009

1,900 Rulings Later, Riverside Justice Hangs Up Robe

He authored about 1,900 rulings in his 12 years on Riverside’s Fourth District Court of Appeal, but he’s now calling it quits.

Justice Barton Gaut announced today that he’s retiring on Feb. 28 after a 47-year career as a lawyer and judge.

“Bart was any presiding justice’s dream — hard-working, productive and always available,” Manuel Ramirez, presiding justice of the Riverside court, said in a strangely past tense prepared statement. “He was principled, but open to a different perspective.”

Of Gaut’s many opinions, 105 were published.

Prior to joining the Fourth District, Gaut served a judge on the Riverside County Superior Court for two years and worked as a litigator for 33 years with Riverside’s Best, Best & Krieger.